Magazines Hub

POZ Magazine, whose motto is "Health, Life and HIV," has compiled its own 100 list this year, a la Out. POZ's reminds us that there are people all across the country who deserve recognition as "unsung hero[es] in the fight against AIDS." While these folks may not have achieved celebrity status or appeared on national news or cable, they are vital and important voices within both the HIV-positive community,and the larger communities which they inhabit.

The individuals on this year’s list may not consider themselves to be heroes, but we do. Each person—in his or her own way—is taking a brave stand against the virus. They are fighting back. They do so, not because they’re seeking glory or accolades, but because fighting back is a means to their survival.

This year’s list is made up of 100 HIV-positive people from around the country who are committed to ending the epidemic. And because they are living with the virus themselves, they often have a unique understanding of what needs to be done and how best to do it. They know what it’s like to be newly diagnosed and how it feels to deal with HIV-related stigma and discrimination. They understand the challenges of accessing care, treatment and support. They realize that by sharing their stories, they are not only inspiring others living with the virus, but also empowering themselves and the entire HIV community.

We hope that the people we spotlight on this year’s POZ 100 inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us. They have the power and the passion to effect change in the world. Meet the 2013 POZ 100…

The list includes people representing a wide variety of races, genders, occupations, and geographic locations. Congratulations to those nominated!

The cover features the two muppets, who according to Sesame Street "have no sexual orientation," cuddling romantically on a couch in a darkened room in front of a TV set picturing the Supreme Court, which of course has just issued a ruling overturning the federal definition of marriage as exclusively the union of one man and one woman.

This is shameless, using figures who are iconic to children to promote sexual deviancy. And worse, it is dangerous and irresponsible.

According to the most extensive research on the subject ever done, Mark Regnerus of the University of Texas concluded that adults who grow up in homosexual households fare worse on 77 of 80 outcomes compared to children raised in an intact biological family...

(cites a laundry list of false and debunked information)

...It is thus clear from the best in social research that being raised in a same-sex environment poses completely unacceptable risks to vulnerable young children.

By promoting same-sex marriage, and using Sesame Street to do it, the New Yorker staff in effect is promoting child abuse. They should be ashamed of themselves.

First of all, the notion that Bert and Ernie are gay lovers is ridiculous, and the propagation of the narrative is a childish statement that says more about the sexually obsessed and slightly homophobic tendencies of our culture. Homophobic? Absolutely: it’s a continuation of the idea that sexuality affects personality as much as it speaks of our obsession with outing the private lives of public individuals — in this case fictional characters that most of us grew up with. “Bert and Ernie are two boys who live together! They must be gay!” In what way is that not some borderline schoolyard obsession with the idea of two dicks touching each other? It isn’t nice when it’s aggressive, and it’s certainly not cute when it’s pushed upon two fictional characters in a supposedly charming attempt to symbolize an entire community’s struggle with acceptance and equality, even if the intentions are lighthearted and fun.

Because here’s the thing: there’s nothing particularly fun about being victimized and marginalized not just by the mainstream community but also within the community to which one belongs. There’s also nothing breezy about having one’s emotions manipulated or infantilized by a national publication whose primary goal is to sell copies of a magazine. You know what kind of image would have been nice to see on The New Yorker cover? Perhaps one of actual gay and lesbian couples. Were the magazine’s designers struggling to find one that anyone might recognize? How about Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, whose relationship was at the center of the case that determined DOMA was unconstitutional in the first place? Did they need help finding one?

In related news, Gawker notes that the image on the cover, which was submitted via Tumblr, has been around for awhile, though slightly altered for the SCOTUS ruling..

The TV screen has since been modified from a grainy Obama shot to a grainy Supreme Court portrait, as you can see. But otherwise, the design and ("Innocence. Lost.") spirit are the same.

Terry Richardson shot Jared Leto (or is that Katy Perry?) for the upcoming issue of Candy, the magazine "celebrating transvestism, transexuality, cross dressing, and androgyny in all its manifestations" from Madrid-based editor Luis Venegas.

‘I’ve got a big gay following on Twitter so it’s an honour for me to be in Attitude. I’m surprised that across all sports more people haven’t come out because going by sheer statistics there have to be lots of gay sportsmen, right? I hate the idea of people feeling they can’t just be themselves and personally I wouldn’t give a s**t if any of my team-mates were gay.’"

More shots of the 28-year-old open-minded flanker from the London Wasps, AFTER THE JUMP...

"Paul Taylor, executive vice president of the Pew Research Center, tells
TIME, '9 in 10 of LGBT surveyed feel they have become more accepted in
the past decade and just as many say they expect the acceptance to
increase in the coming decade. In our business, when you see those
numbers, that’s pretty dramatic. But that needs to be kept in
perspective, because while these are the best of times, that doesn’t
mean it’s the easiest time. Even in a time of feeling more socially
accepted, fewer than 6 in 10 have told their mothers about their sexual
orientation or gender identity and fewer than 4 in 10 have told their
fathers–that suggests the complicated realms of their lives.'

While the survey indicated that the group as a whole is more more
satisfied with the direction of the country than the general public, its
members have frequently faced rejection and discrimination in the past.
About 60% say they have been the target of slurs or jokes. 40% said
they were rejected by a close friend or family member due to their
sexual orientation or gender identity. 30% say they had been physically
attacked or threatened, and 21% claim they have been unfairly treated by
an employer.

Respondents felt bisexual women were the most accepted by society while transgender adults were the least. They also felt that lesbians were more readily accepted than gay men.

Among other results noted by researchers, the group surveyed showed a proclivity for political involvement:

"5 in 10 say they have both bought products made by a company that’s
LGBT friendly and have refused to buy products from companies that were
not. 3 in 10 have donated to politicians who support LGBT rights.
Besides the hot political button of same-sex marriage, employment
rights, HIV and AIDS prevention are also top issues they feel most
strongly about."

With the anticipated return of True Blood right around the corner on June 16th, actor Joe Manganiello is thankfully taking full advantage of the renewed spotlight. The 6-foot-5 actor beefs up the cover of the July issue of Men's Health UK, where his detailed fitness routine is discussed along with an accompanying photo spread of Manganiello demonstrating his peak physical prowess.

"I'm not 18 anymore. But you won't hear me saying that, because me at 36 would destroy me as a teenager," the actor boasts. "In my mid-thirties I'm making bigger gains than I've ever made in my life."